Political parties have submitted extensive witness lists for a parliamentary committee of inquiry (comissão parlamentar de inquérito) into Luís Neves, former director of the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ). The Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal or IL) requested roughly 40 hearings, including former Prime Minister António Costa, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, while demanding access to Neves's bank statements and property records. The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) also proposed 34 witnesses, among them current Attorney General Amadeu Guerra and former Attorney General Lucília Gago.
Parties Seek Broad Witness List in Luís Neves Inquiry
Sunday, 25 October 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Luís Neves will take office on Monday as Minister of Internal Administration. He graduated in law and has worked at the Judicial Police since 1995, where he served as coordinator of a national unit and developed a long career in criminal investigation.
The PJ (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal's national criminal investigation police agency, founded in 1945. Operating under the Ministry of Justice and supervised by the Public Ministry (prosecutors), the PJ is a "higher criminal police body" specializing in serious and complex crimes. Mission: The PJ assists judicial and prosecuting authorities by investigating terrorism, organized crime, homicide, kidnapping, drug trafficking, corruption, cybercrime, financial crime, and money laundering. It conducts forensic examinations, operates Portugal's Interpol and Europol liaison offices, and maintains specialized units including the National Counterterrorism Unit and National Anti-Corruption Unit. Difference from PSP/GNR: While PSP (civilian urban police) and GNR (military rural police) focus on preventive policing, public order, and investigating minor crimes, the PJ exclusively handles serious crime investigation requiring specialized technical and scientific expertise. PSP and GNR report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; PJ reports to the Ministry of Justice. PJ officers receive higher pay and prestige but face greater operational risk.
6 sources
- Parliamentary Inquiry into Luís Neves: Liberal Initiative requests 40 hearings and demands access to bank statements and property deedsdn.pt ·
- PS wants to call Montenegro, Costa, Lucília Gago, and Amadeu Guerra to testify at the parliamentary inquiry into Luís Nevescnnportugal.iol.pt ·
- PS wants to call Montenegro, Costa, Lucília Gago, and Amadeu Guerra to testify in the CPI regarding Luís Nevespublico.pt ·
- IL wants Marcelo and Costa at CPI regarding Luís Nevesobservador.pt ·
- Marcelo, Costa, Montenegro and even Rui Pinto: parties announce names to be heard by the inquiry commission on Nevesexpresso.pt ·
- Iniciativa Liberal wants bank statements from Luís Nevescmjornal.pt ·
